FAQs for School-Based Summer Programme 2022

The Summer Programmes are designed to address the needs of the children who are most likely to have experienced discontinuity in their education due to the periods of remote teaching and learning, providing them with an opportunity to experience school life in a very supportive way due to the deliberate emphasis on positive learning experiences. The programme’s aims are to support pupils’ ongoing engagement with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they can progress to their planned educational placement next September along with their peers.

Following on from 2021, this summer there are three programmes for eligible schools to participate with.

1. summer programme for pupils in special schools and special classes
2. an expanded literacy and numeracy summer camp/campa samhraidh for pupils in DEIS schools (this also includes schools who are getting DEIS status from September 2022)
3. an inclusion programme for pupils in mainstream classes with complex needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

A range of enhanced measures have been put in place to incentivise schools to facilitate the summer programme including:

1. Reduced administrative work (application process has been streamlined)
2. Appointment of an overseer to manage the summer
3. Increased paid preparation time
4. A capitation grant of €30 per pupil per week and €60 per pupil per week in special classes and special schools’ programme.
5. Online Payment Claims Portal – to reduce delays and complexity in submissions of school claims.
6. Remuneration for teachers and SNAs at their personal rate.
7. Permission to recruit newly qualified teachers (those graduating in summer 2022) to work on the programme.
8. Flexibility for schools to decide when to run the programme (during summer closure)

Schools that wish to participate in the 2022 Summer Programme must register through an online sanction portal which can be accessed on this link.

Schools are asked to complete and submit this form indicating participation on or before Tuesday 24 May 2022 at 12pm.

Overseers, teachers and SNAs will be paid at their personal rate (i.e., remuneration will mirror payment they normally receive during the school year). Preparation hours will also be paid in the same way. It is envisaged that payment will issue to staff earlier than in previous years.

For the 2022 programme, participating schools will utilise the Department’s Esinet system to submit claims. This will allow claims to be processed on an ongoing basis during the summer, and reduce the reliance on paper-based claims.

The Principal or Local Administrator is to re-assign Data Approver and Data Entry roles within the school for the purposes of the summer programme.

It will be important that all payment claims are submitted by published deadline dates to ensure staff are paid on time.

Guidance and support will be provided by the Department throughout the process. Further details on how claims can be submitted will be issued to participating schools in due course.

Special Schools  and Special Classes School Based Programme only

Principals and permanent qualified teachers engaged in delivering summer programmes are entitled to a maximum of 5 days extra personal vacation (EPV) (one day for each week worked), in keeping with the EPV scheme. Principals or teachers are not permitted to exceed an overall maximum of 5 (EPV) days in the school year. The Principal may approve EPV leave for the teacher in accordance with the terms of circular 37/97, 35/2009. EPV leave taken should be entered on the On-Line Claims System (OLCS) in line with current practice.

EPV days are not available for the Inclusion Programmes or the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Camps.

Yes, if they meet the criteria schools are entitled to run more than one of the three Summer Programmes during the 2022 school closure.

An overseer should be on duty each week the school is running summer programmes. The role of overseer can be shared between a schools teachers and each will be paid for the weeks/days that they work as overseer. (please note there will be one Programme Overseer appointed to manage all programmes that a school is running. This point will be explained further later in these FAQs).

Two scenarios – same school

• A school is running three programmes for two weeks at the same time does that equal one overseer for the three programmes?
  Yes, it’s one overseer for the two weeks.

• School decides to run the three camps one after each other – therefore they can appoint three overseers – one for each programme – An overseer should be on duty for each week and hence it is still one overseer per school per week. The role of overseer can be shared between the teachers in the school and each will be paid for the weeks/days that they work as overseer.

The Department of Education has outlined the following minimum enrolment requirements for each of the three elements of this year’s Summer Programme.

However, the Department of Education have also stated that their approach is intended to be flexible so as to maximise the number of schools participating. Thus, if schools have any queries in relation to minimum thresholds, they should contact schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie  

DEIS summer camps:  schools should note that camps must be comprised of a minimum of 12 pupils to be considered eligible to participate in the DEIS Literacy & Numeracy Summer Camp.

Yes, it is open to a school to decide when to run their Summer Programme(s). If a school is closing prior to the last week in June and would like to commence a Summer Programme, then they are permitted to do so.

Yes, a teacher may work in a school-based Summer Programme and also engage in a home-based programme.

No – there is no maximum limit, but teachers must adhere to the published terms and conditions of the scheme (i.e., tuition between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, 1:1 provision exceptions for sibling applications, allowing time for travel and rest breaks between provisions etc.).

No, schools are not permitted to use the school premises for the purpose of providing a home-based programme.

The overseer role must be undertaken by a permanent qualified teacher (or a CID-holding teacher) in the participating school (this need not be the school principal).

Yes, a teacher in a fixed-term contract may be appointed as a programme overseer for the Summer Programmes 2022.

No, where a school decides to operate more than one Summer Programme, one overseer is appointed to manage all of its summer programmes. The role of overseer can be shared with another qualified teacher and each will be paid for the weeks/days that they work as overseer.

No, a programme overseer is not normally permitted to work as a teacher during the Summer Programme.

Please note the overseer will be paid for the overseer role only even where they are teaching.

The programme overseer will manage the summer programme and will be required to be present in the school for the full duration of the programme to deal with any issues that may arise. The overseer is not permitted to fulfil a teaching role in the programme.

The Overseer role is not limited to, but will include the following duties:

• Acting as the point of contact for the Department and/or Education Centre and parents in relation to the summer programme.
• Acting in a liaison role with other staff members working on the programme regarding any issues they might be experiencing.
• Establishing and ensuring that their programme operates within resources as sanctioned by the Department.
• Ensuring the current public health COVID-19 guidance and advice is adhered to by both pupils and summer programme staff.
• Where applicable, ensuring school meals are provided to pupils enrolled in the summer programme.
• Where applicable, dealing with any issues relating to transport services for participating pupils
• Ensuring appropriate returns to the Department in respect of teacher, SNA, preparation hours and Overseer remuneration on or before published deadline dates.
• Ensuring staff involved with the payment process are issued with any relevant guidance documentation provided by the Department.
• Submitting claims to the Department or Education Centre for capitation and any transport costs.
• Ensuring that any summer programme evaluation material is completed and returned to the Department, including online evaluation questionnaires.

See page 11 of the Overview – Terms and Conditions document for further information on the duties of the Overseer.

Yes, the role of the overseer may be shared but teachers will only receive payments for the days/weeks on which they worked in this role.

Programme overseers will be paid additional remuneration at their personal rate (based on what they are normally paid during their school year). The same will apply to payment for preparation hours undertaken.

The Department will process payments to overseers as completed payment claims forms are received in the Department over the summer period.

With the exception of the overseer which must be undertaken by a contracted teacher (including CID and/or fixed term contracts) in the participating schools, schools can engage teachers and SNAs from outside of their school as the staff for any or all of the summer programme.

To assist primary school in sourcing staff for the summer programme the Teaching Council and Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) are promoting the summer programmes with this year’s graduate teachers and undergraduate students registered with the Teaching Council under Route 5 to increase the supply of available teachers this summer via www.educationposts.ie where schools can find staff in their local area,

Schools must comply with standard recruitment and vetting procedures in the employment of external staff.

Graduate teachers can work on the summer programme where they have commenced their registration process with the Teaching Council and where the following conditions are fulfilled:

1. They have received their final results from their HEI confirming they are eligible for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Garda vetting has been completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
3. Their registration with the Teaching Council will be finalised prior to 7 October 2022.

PME student teachers who have applied for registration with the Teaching Council under Further Education can be engaged by primary or post-primary schools where the following conditions are fulfilled:

1. Garda vetting has been completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Their registration with the Council under Further Education will be finalised prior to 7 October 2022.

Student teachers can work on the summer programme where they are:

• currently in Year 3 of a four-year undergraduate teacher education programme, or;
• currently in Year 3 or Year 4 of a five-year undergraduate teacher education programme

Yes, teachers or SNAs on Career Break for the 2021/22 school year are eligible to participate in the summer programmes.

Yes, teachers who are currently working in a job-share arrangement are permitted to participate in the Summer Programmes but must work in accordance with their agreed job-sharing pattern.

Teachers who have retired on medical grounds Strands 1 and 2 cannot participate in the summer programme.

Teachers retired under Strand 3 may participate in the summer programme. Please note they are subject to the restrictions of the pension scheme governing their retirement.

The Teaching Council and the Irish Primary Principals Network will promote Summer Programmes with this year’s graduate teachers and Professional Masters of Education students. A summer provision noticeboard for teachers and SNAs has been created and is available on www.educationposts.ie.

Teachers and SNAs who work on the programme will be paid additional remuneration at their personal rate (i.e. what they are normally paid during the school year).

The Department will process payments for overseers, teachers and SNAs including preparation hours as they are received by schools, significantly reducing the payment timeframes of previous years.

Contracted teachers and SNAs will be paid addition remuneration based on their normal salary during the school year. All others will receive a daily/hourly rate of pay.

10 hours paid per week for each week of the Primary Inclusion Programme and DEIS summer camp that a school is running a programme will be allocated for the purposes of planning and preparation.

12 hours paid per week for each week of the summer programme for pupils in special class/special schools.

Preparation hours can be undertaken by any teacher(s) employed by the school including the teacher appointed to the Overseer role. It is envisaged that the majority of preparation hours will be used prior to the commencement of the programme.

Schools may use their preparation hours to engage in some or all of the following:

• Recruitment of staff to work on the Summer Programme.
• Establishing procedures to facilitate the transfer of relevant pupil information, appropriate planning documentation and details of school policies and procedures to staff who are unfamiliar with the pupils.
• Identify target pupils to enrol in the Summer Programme and communicate with parents/guardians.
• Familiarise teachers and SNAs with guidance materials and resources issued by the Department of Education.
• Develop a timetable for the Summer Programme.
• Make arrangements for transport and school meals provision where required.

See pages 11 and 12 of the Overview – Terms and Conditions document for further information

Building on individual strengths, interested and priority needs by collaborating with parent/guardians and enabling the voice of the child is paramount.

Schools should issue a pre-programme survey to children and their parents/guardians to establish the child’s priority needs, strengths, interests and how they could be best supported. In some cases, children and young people with significant additional needs may require other ways of expressing their interests and learning needs. This should enable teachers to individualise support by devising a summer programme plan.

SEN Transport Scheme services may be available to pupils with complex needs who normally avail of the SEN Transport Scheme. Where the transport is not available, grant funding will be provided to parents in the form of the Special Transport Grant (STG).

This grant will be paid by the Department of Education to the parent(s)/guardian(s) following the completion of the programme.

No, the Department’s Primary School Transport Scheme will not operate for the duration of the Summer Programmes in 2022.

Where transport to and from a primary Summer Programme is identified as a barrier for certain pupils to attend the programme, schools may make their own local transport arrangements and claim the associated costs from the Department up to a maximum of €1,750 per week. It is important to note that transport should only be arranged for those pupils who are already availing of school transport under the Department’s Primary School Transport Scheme.

All claims in respect of transport costs must be accompanied by:

• the appropriate receipts e.g., private bus company receipts, taxi receipts.
• names of pupils who were provided with transport to and from the summer programme and
• confirmation that they are currently availing of the primary school transport scheme and submitted to summerschemeclaim@education.gov.ie once the programme has concluded.

Yes, this year it is open to all primary schools to provide a Summer Programme for mainstream pupils with complex needs and children deemed to be at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

The Summer Programme can run for two to three weeks (minimum of two weeks).

For the purposes of this programme, pupils with complex needs and those pupils who have been identified as at risk of educational disadvantage that attend mainstream classes.

Complex Needs

• Pupils in mainstream classes in primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (School Support Plus). This includes pupils with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities

See page 6 of the Overview – Terms and Conditions document for further information.

Please note: Children in the above categories entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.

Risk of educational disadvantage

• Pupils already identified by the school as being most at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving.
• Pupils accessing SET or SNA school supports during the school year.
• Pupils whose domestic circumstances or home environment are not conducive to online learning.
• Pupils who have missed significant periods of school or who have been identified as having poor attendance.
• Pupils from the Traveller and Roma communities.
• Migrant pupils such as addressing English language skills and integration, including pupils who have recently arrived in Ireland from the Ukraine.

The initial allocation for each programme group is one teacher and one SNA for up to 12 children. Schools can form pupil groups of up to 12 children supported by one teacher and one SNA.

If a school has a query or wish to appeal for additional staffing including SNA support they should contact schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie setting out the basis of the appeal no later than 5pm on Friday 1^st July.

(As previously mentioned, schools are advised to contact the Summer Provision Team of the Department of Education if they need to operate below the ratios outlined).

Pupils presenting with complex needs/most significant needs in mainstream classes and are accessing the highest level of the Continuum of Support (School Support Plus) should be prioritised for inclusion in this new programme.

Once places have been allocated to pupils with complex needs, schools may offer places to pupils who they consider to be at risk of educational disadvantage.

This programme also offers an opportunity for schools to address the needs of migrant pupils such as addressing English language skills and integration, including children who have recently arrived from the Ukraine.

See pages 6 and 7 of the Overview – Terms and Conditions document for further guidance.

Yes, if more than 50% of maximum pupil allocation of places are assigned to pupils with complex needs, the school may form additional group(s) by selecting the option of forming additional group(s) in the online registration portal.

The initial staffing allocation for the new Summer Programme are based on enrolment.

Schools can form pupil groups of up to 12 children supported by 1 teacher and 1 SNA

Groups should consist of up to 6 pupils with complex needs with the remaining places allocated to pupils at most risk of educational disadvantage.

Schools can apply to the Department for additional SNA support where required to ensure that participating pupils have similar SNA support to what they receive during the school year.

The Department of Education have also stated that their approach is intended to be flexible so as to maximise the number of schools participating. Thus, if schools have any queries in relation to minimum thresholds they should contact schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie  

All special schools and schools with special classes may run an expanded summer programme this July and August or following their school closure if earlier.

The summer programme will run for between two and five weeks during the school summer closure.

The special class and special school summer programme must run for a minimum of two weeks.

The length of the school day for this programme is aligned with the normal school day.

Staffing resources (teachers and SNAs) are the same as those provided during the school year.

Schools should focus on pupils that have difficulty accessing the home-based programme when determining which pupils will be enrolled in the summer programme.

Note: Similar to last year children with complex needs entering primary school (including special classes and special schools) for the first time in September 2022 are eligible to participate in summer programmes.

Home-based summer programme will be available for pupils with complex special educational needs where schools are not providing a school-based programme.

A minimum of four (4) children should be enrolled in the special class to participate in the Special Class/Special Schools Programme. However, the Department’s approach is intended to be flexible so as to maximise the number of schools participating. Schools should contact schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie if they have any queries in relation to minimum thresholds.

The DEIS Literacy and Numeracy summer camp programme is available to all DEIS primary schools including those who are joining the DEIS programme in September 2022.

Schools can choose to run up to two literacy and numeracy camps/campai samhraidh.

Each literacy and numeracy camp will run for a duration of one week. Activities for the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Camps are based on a 22.5 week. The starting time must be no later than 10am and four hours of instruction must be provided each day. The remaining 30 mins per day / 2.5 hours per week are allocated for fully supervised lunch/break period each day.

Up to 36 pupils can participate in each week of the Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp programme.

The requirement is one registered teacher for every 12 pupils.

Guidance documents refer to the appointment of an ‘additional teacher’ for DEIS Literacy/Numeracy Camp/Campa Samhraidh in 2022. This additional teacher is the Programme Overseer who, as part of their duties will manage health and safety protocols and communication with parents/guardians, the Department of Education and other relevant bodies.

Schools have autonomy to decide which pupils should participate in this programme. In making their decision principals (liaising with class teachers and special education teachers) should identify pupils they feel will benefit most from the experience and take into account the importance of early intervention and pupils’ individual needs.

Yes, schools may allocate places to pupils at any class level including 6th class. Records of learning during the summer programme can be shared with post-primary teachers to help the pupil experience a smooth transition to the new school setting.

Yes, Dublin West and Navan Education Centres will be hosting training sessions for the delivery of the Literacy and Numeracy/Campaí Samhraidh programmes at the end of June. Further details will issue to all participating schools.

As in previous years, the Inspectorate will visit and evaluation a selection of summer camps. The purpose of the visits is to affirm, support and advise schools on the operation of the programme.

The quality of provision in the Summer Camp Programme is evaluated by visiting inspectors so as to report to the Teacher Education Section (TES) on the overall quality of provision; and to make recommendations to TES and to schools on how the learning outcomes and experiences for pupils can be improved.

For 2022, an inspector may also make contact with some camp organisers to arrange a time that will be suited for a phone call about the work of the camp.

At the end of the summer programme parents/guardians should be provided with an overview of their child’s progress and a record of their learning. The Programme Overseer should ensure that a copy of this record of learning is retained within the school and the content therein can be used to inform approaches for the child when schools reopen after the summer closure.

The summer camp programme does not provide planning templates, lesson plans or resources. Instead, it provides guidelines to support teachers to utilise what they already have in their own school. In addition, there is a wealth of resources and support material available on the websites of the NCCA, PDST, NEPS, NCSE and Scoilnet.

Where schools wish to appeal any element of the resource allocation granted to their school they should contact the relevant section of the Department by email at schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie.

Yes, all appeals should be submitted via email setting out the basis of the appeal no later than 5pm on Friday 1 July 2022.

* Schools can apply to the Department for additional SNA support where required to ensure that participating pupils have similar SNA support to what they receive during the school year. If schools have any queries in relation to minimum thresholds they should contact schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie.

Email:              schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie

Phone:            090648 4292